Confectionery apparatus



Aug. 7, 1928. Y F. F. PEAsE:

l CONFECTIONIRY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Jan. 6, 1923 F. F. PEASE comrscrronznr APPARATUS original Filed' Jan. si 192s Aug". 7, 1928.

F. F. PEASE CONFECTIONERY APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 6, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 000OO`O 000000 fil . fm, @mm

Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT ol-fries.

FRED FORBEST PEASE, OF EAST BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO F. F. PEASE INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONFECTIONERY APPARATUS.

Application led January 6, 1923, Serial No. 611,192. Renewed November 30, 1927.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus employed in connection with the manufacture of confectionery.

In the manufacture of chocolate coated articles of various shapes it is customary to shape the cream or fondant centers of the articles in mold cavities formed in a bed o f starch. Ordinarily the containing tray 1s filled with finely divided starch having a plurality of mold cavities of the desired shape formed therein in which the fondant is poured and allowed to harden. After the cooling and hardening of the fondant centers, it is necessary to remove them from the mold cavities and clean and dry the starch before it may be used once more. The complete removal of the starch from the fondant centers with the subsequent cleansing and drying of the starch itself constitutes a serious problem in the manufacture of candy.

According to the present invention, a complete separation of the fondant centers and starch is effected and thereafter the starch I is cleaned and dried rapidly and thoroughly.

The separation of the starch from the fondant centers is accomplished with a minimum handling and breakage ofthe centers and without the necessity of disturbing the prearranged order and arrangement of the centers. This feature is of importance 1n connection with the later enrobing operation, as it permits the centers to be delivered to the coating machine without the necessity of subsequently positioning them in an orderly arrangement for the enrobing machine.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that particles of sugar and other foreign matter are separated from the starch and the starch itself is completely dried in a Vminimum of time and in a. single operation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the usual methods of drying starch by circulation of drying air in an open room are not only slow and laborious but the finely divided starch dust picked up and carried by the air and deposited about the room constitutes a distinct fire hazard.

The invention consists primarily in the employment of an air current of sufficient force and proper direction t0 Completely V molds.

the starch with great rapidity. To this end,

a revolving screen is located in t-he air duct and 1s-so designed and rotated that the starch is caused to pass through the openings in the screen withthe air current and the heavier particles of sugar and foreign material impinge against the screen and are diverted into a separate chamber through the action of centrifugal force. Subsequently to the separation of the sugar from the finely divided starch, the latter is deposited from the air current in a suitable form of settling chamber or other separating device.

The removal and cleansing of the starch in this manner thoroughly dries and cleanses it and leaves the bodyl of starch in a finely divided fluffy condition` which is ideally adapted for the formation of the cavity In this connection it. should be understood that starch which has not been properly cleansed of sugar and dried becomes dirty and sticky and cannot be separated from the fondant centers after they have hardened` in the mold cavities.

A further advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that according to this method the Yoperations of separating the starch from the candy and cleansing the starch are carried on within closed compartments and the fire hazard which is very great in ordinary methods of handling the starch is greatly reduced.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to lthose skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention Fig. 1 represent-s an elevation partly 1n section of an apparatus einl'iodying the features of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating an elevation partly in section of the apparatus for handling the trays of starch; Fig. 4 is an end elevation partlyi in section of the handling apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the feedine; belt and table taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. G is a detail illustrating the guide rails for elevating the starch trays from the bed of starch; Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating an elevation of the separator screen, ltogether with the accompanying mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating a section in elevation of the separator .screen shown in Fig. 'i' ing parts.

According to the illustrated cmbodii ent of the invention, a1 tray of usual form containing aY series of fondant centers in a bed of starch is delivered manually or otherwise to a mechanism which reif'erses the position of the tray and permit; the fondant centers in the bed of starch to be delivered from the tray directly upon a feed bell:l or similar form of conveyor. The delivery of a succeeding tray of starch to the reversing mechanism delivers the first tray to the conveyor belt, suitable guide mechanism serving to remove the tray from the bed of starch, leaving the latter deposited upon the belt. Thereafter the hed of starch; together with the fondant centers; is delivered into a region having a moving current of air of suliicient strength to remove the starch and similar loose particles from the relatively larger fondant centers; this separating operation being aided by the eu'iployincnt of suitable cleaning' instrumentalitics. The starch and similar matter which has been picked up by the air current is then delivered to a rap idly rotating separator screen designed in such a. manner that the sugar and heavier particles are separated from the starch which passes through the screen and are thrown by centrifugal force to the outer periphery of the screen from which they are guided into a collecting' chamber. The starch thus separated from the sugar and similar matter is then delivered to a settling chamber, in which the starch is deposited in the forni of a dry. tlully masq., the air being delivered from4 the `"ettlinj r chamber substantially free of starch.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the starch tray indicated at l() is first delivered to a reversing mechanism which comprises essentially a. nollow casing l5 of rectangular cross section, which slidinglv receives the starch tray, as indicated in Fig. 4. The frame 1G of the machine may be conveniently provided with inclined g'uideways 18 to facilitate entering the tra),v into the receptacle l5, as indicated in Fig. 3.

with the accompany- It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the starch tray comprises a frame if() having an imperforate bottoni 22 upon which a starch bed7 indicated at 23, re., A series of mold cavities arc formed in this siarch bed in the usual manner and serve to mold and shape the fondant centers, which are indicated generally at 2l. lVith this` in mind, it will be obvious that by reversing the position of the tray the fondantL centers, togetlier with the surrounding bed ol starch, may be conveniently deposited and separated from the` tray l0. 'lo this end the receptacle l5 is provided with oppositely extending trunnions 3l), which are mounted in bearings 32 formed upon the frame and which serve to permit the receptacle 15 to be bodily revolved7 reversing the position ol the starch tray carried therein. This reversing movement of the receptacle may be conveniently accomplished through a hand wheel indicated at 3l, which is' connected to one of the trunnions 3() and which is rotated through 1800 to reverse the position ol the receptacle l5. either one of two operative positions by a spring pressed detent 3G, which engages in locking recesses 38 formed upon opposite sides of the periphery of the hand wheel. During the reversal ot the Starch tray, the latter is retained in place within the rccep tacle through the provision of a curved guide d0, which serves to close the open end o'l' ythe receptacle l5 and retain the tra',v Vin place during the reversing movement in a manner which will be evident to those skilled in the art. After the position ol' the starch tray has been reversed, it is delivered from the open ended receptacle l5 onto a conveyor belt l2 by the entrance of the nerd succeeding starch tray into the. receptacle. 'l`hc bed of CVtarch and the fondant centersv are deposited upon the belt and the tray itself is elcvated through engagement with inclined guide rails All formed upon side members 45,115 shown in Fins. 5 and (3. '.hc feed belt, as indicated clearly in Fig. Si; pa 5....; at opposite ends over upper supporting rolls Ill The hand wheel may be retained in and lower supporting rolls li'. 'Vlie trry if; i

guided from the receptacle onto the belt and loss of starch between the rerc "icl-c and the belt is prevented by an apron t5 secured to the under portion ot the receptacle and projccting over thc belt. .le indicated in liig. fi. each end of the receptacle provided with such an apron. ln order to initially break up and separate thc bed ot starch vfrom the fondant centers, the starch. together with the fondant centers, is ti'a1i:-:fer1cd from the primary conveyor belt l2 onto a secondary belt 50, travelingl at a higher rate of speed. This progressive transfer of the bed of starch from one belt to another traveling at a. different rate, of speed serves to pull the` mass of starch apart and to eilectually break `the belt being supported upon a series ot guide rolls o2. The region traversed by Vthe conveyor belt 50 is substantially completely enclosed by a casing, indicated genorally at 54, and an `upper casing or hood 55. A strong current of air is induced in this region toreinove the broken mass ol starch trom the fondant centers and convey it away therefrom. In order to permit this removal ot the starch by the air current, the belt 50, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, may conveniently be formed of a perforated sheet, an open screen or similar construction having openings of ample sine to permit the starch to pass therethrough but too small to permit the passage of the 'rendant centers. VIn this connection it will be observed that the casing 54 is provided with an up'tanding wall 56 positioned closely adjacent the guide roll #10 and. serving to guide any starch Which may pass downwardly between the guide rolls 4G `and 52 into the air conduit. The process of removing the starch from the tendant centers through the'moving air current is aided by a series of cleaning brushes` 62, which lightly engage with the top portions of the fondant centers Yas the lat-ter pass thereunder to loosen andremove the starch therefrom. These brushes `are con veniently rota-ted in any suitable manner, as by driving belts G1 connected with a drive shalt 05. The tendant centers may be handled in any desired manner after removal of the starch therefrom but in the illust-rated embodiment ot the invention are simso design the: separator screen that the suspended mattei' will be completely separated trom the air-but in actual practice it is desirable that particles olf' the sugar or tailings shall be separateil from the mass otl starch and to this end the separator screen is dcsigned to remove the relatively larger par ot sugar while otl'ering no substantial impedance 'to the passage ol" the starch and air theretl'irough. Ther-evolving screen, as indicated clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, is mounted upon a shaft to which isV connected a spider 76 having a plurality of radiating arms 78 supportingr a rim 7 9 to which the periphery ot the screen is connected. The

discharged upon an inclined surface (lo,

central portionot the screen is rendered inoperative through the employment of a substantially conical head 80 which is supported -upon the shaft 75 and prevents the engagement ofthe suspended matter with the inner surface of the screen. The particles of sugar or tailings impinge upon the inclined sur tace ot the revolvine1 screen andare thereafter thrown outwardly by centrifugal torce into an annular collecting chamber 8l. The collecting' chamber is maintained clear vof tailings through the employment of a plurality of blades which are connected to the periphery ot the spider and revolve at high speed in the annular chamber.` These blades serve to discharge theI tailings 'from the annular chamber into a discharge duc-t 85. By providing a, separator screen having an inclined surface, it is possible to eliect a separation ot suspended matter trom the air current with the employment o'li screen open.- ings which are as large-or larger in area than the matter to be sepa-rated. Such a construction has the distinct advantage that no substantial impedance lis oli'ered to the flow ot the air thro-ugh the screen while'at the same time a substantially complete separation ofthe suspended matt-er trom the air is ei'iected. The air with the starch contained therein, atter its passage through the separator screen, continues-through a blower indicated ,c cnerillyl at 100 and from the blower is kcaused to tlow along a duct 102 communicating with separate chambers 104 and 106. Thestarch laden air is directed into the upper portion ot the chambers 10'1 and 106 in a tangential manner and the starch is gradually seliarated troni the air and deposited in the lower neck 108 ot the chamber. rl`he air, a-ltcr being treed from the starch, passes outwardly through open ings` 110 fopmed in the upper portions ol the chambers. The starch after its collection in the lowerportion of the chambers may be periodically discharged into containers 112 through the provision ot a slide valve or gate indicated at 114. This particular meth-- ed of etlaecting a linal separation ot the starch from the air is a common expedient -in apparatus ot this character and specilically iornis no part ot the present invention. As indicated in Fig. 1, the shalt 75 to which the tan or blower and separator are connected is employed ttor'operating` the conveyor belt 42 and cleaning brushes 62 through a counter-.shaft driven troni a belt 122 and comiected to the conveyor belt and cleaning brushes through suitable belt connections.

The apparatus, ashereinbefore described, for removing the starch from the fondant centers and thereafter cleaning the starch not only permits large volumes of starch to be handled vsimply and expeditiously but in addition has the further advantage that the starch is substantially completely dried and leo iso

`will be finally deposited from the air in a dry, fluffy condition.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that although the illustrated embodiment of the invention indicates a convent-ional form of apparatus for effecting a final separation of the starch from the air, this separation may be conveniently effected through the use of a revolving screen of proper design interposed in the path of the starch laden air after the initial separation of the tailings from the starch has been completed.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims and may be changed or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described,what is claimed is:

1. That step in the manufacture of confectionery which consists in subjecting a broken up mass of starch containing particles of sugar to an air current of sufficient volume and velocity to pick up and convey the starch and sugar with the air, removing the heavier sugar particles from the starch impregnated air by a revolving screen, separating the starch from the air, and collecting the starch in a dry, fiuffy condition.

2. That step in the manufacture of confectionery which consists in initially break- Lug up a mass of starch in which fondant centers are embedded, removing the thus broken up starch and particles of sugar from the centers by a moving current of air, and progressively separating the suspended matter and starch from the current of air.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising means for supporting a mass of starch, means for removing the starch with an air current, and a revolving screen for separat-ing suspended matter from the air current.

4. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising means for supporting a mass of starch with fondant centers embedded therein, cleaning brushes adapted to engage with and break up the mass of starch surrounding the centers, means for directing a current of air about the starch to pick up the starch and remove it with the air current, and a revolving screen designed to separate the suspended matter from the air.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising means for receiving a .t ay of starch, means for reversing the position of the tray, a moving conveyer adapted to receive a mass of starch deposited upon the tray, means for breaking up the starch received by the conveyer, means for directing an air current about the starch in a manner to piek up the starch in the air current together with small particles of sugar, means for normally separating sugar and other heavier particles from the starch and air, and means for finally separating the liner particles of starch from the air.

(3. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising a screen surface for supporting a mass of starch With fondant centers embedded therein, means for inducing a current of air downwardly through the screen surface and the mass of starch supported thereon, and a revolving screen surface located in the path of the air current and designed to separate suspended matter from the air.

7. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising a screen surface adapted to support a mass of starch with fondant centers embedded therein, means for inducing a current of air through the screen surface and mass of starch supported thereby to remove particles of starch and sugar surrounding the centers, a revolving screen located in the air current designed to separate particles of sugar from the starch and air, and means for finally separating the starch from the air.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising a screen surface designed to support a mass of starch with fondant centers embedded therein, a blower, an air duct connecting the blower and screen surface and designed to cause a draft of air through the screen surface and mass of starch supported thereby, and a revolving screen separator located in the duct between the screen surface and blower.

9. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising means for supporting a mass of starch with fondant centers cmbedded therein, a series of cleaning brushes designed to engage with the mass of starch in a manner to break up the mass of starch,

means for inducing a current of air to pick up the starch and particles of sugar mixed therewith, and a revolving screen for separating suspended matter from the air current.

l0. Apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery comprising a conveyer belt having an imperforate surface adapted to receive a mass of starch, means for operating the belt, a second conveyer belt having a screen surface, means for operating the second belt at a higher rate of speed than the first belt, and means for inducing a current of air through the screen surface of the second belt.

11. An apparatus for the manufacture of ing the air impregnated with starch and confectionery comprising means for supsugar against the separator t0 cause the porting a mass of starch with fonda-nt censugar to be separated thereby and the starch 10 ters embedded therein, means for creating impregnated air to pass therethrough, and

5 an air Current t0 remove the starch With means for iinally separating the starch from particles of sugar contained therein, a rethe air. volving screen separator, means for direct- FRED FORREST PEASE. 

